Honduras international Carlo Costly (right) signed with Real España on January 2, 2014. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – The current champion of Honduras has strengthened itself in quite a spectacular manner. Real España, which claimed the 2013 Torneo Apertura title last month, announced Tuesday that it has signed Honduras international Carlo Costly.
The 31-year-old joins from Guizhou Zhicheng of the Chinese second division, hoping the move will prepare him for the World Cup finals.
“I don’t want to lose another two or three months,” said Costly, who missed the 2010 World Cup due to an ankle injury. “I want to get into a rhythm, so that they can go for the championship and more than anything, because I like Real España.
“I am happy and motivated to be with this great team. I hope to come together with my new teammates to be a champion. I return with the same desire to do things well.”
Costly scored seven goals in 13 qualifiers for Brazil 2014, including the game-winner in an historic 2-1 win over Mexico on September 6.
It has been seven years since the imposing 6-foot, 2-inch striker performed in the domestic league. In the 2006 Apertura, as a member of Platense, he finished as top scorer with 10 goals.
Since then, Costly has played with GKS Belchatow (Poland), Birmingham City (England), Vaslui (Romania), Atlas (Mexico), Houston Dynamo (USA) and Veria (Greece), before heading to Asia.
Real España kicks-off its 2014 Clausura campaign away to Victoria on January 11.
NOTES: Costly’s father, Allan Costly, represented Honduras at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and also played for Real España … Costly has eight career CONCACAF Gold Cup goals, one behind all-time team leader Carlos Pavon.
